KUALA LUMPUR: More than 150 paediatricians nationwide are ready to examine thousands of Malaysian children between the ages of one and five in the next couple of months in the first ever child growth and counselling campaign known as IMFeD Malaysia - ‘Get Growth On Track’ Campaign.
IMFeD Malaysia is a childhood feeding, nutrition and growth programme by the Malaysian Paediatric Association (MPA) in conjunction with Abott Malaysia.
It allows paediatricians to accurately diagnose feeding difficulties in children over one year.
The MPA encourages parents with children who were between the ages of one and five to benefit from this campaign.
In a press statement the IMFeD secretariat said the recent National Health & Morbidity Survey reported some alarming facts in child growth in the country.
The rate of stunted children increased from 17 per cent in 2006 to 20.7 per cent in 2016. (About 2 in 10 children), while the number of underweight children increased from 12.9 per cent in 2006 to 13.7 per cent in 2016 (more than 1 in 10 children).
The survey reported that growth problems were not only common among poor families, but also among high-income families.
” The MPA views this as a serious problem which is not easily resolved, hence it decided to organise the first child growth and counselling campaign nationwide.
“For the coming months, paediatricians across the nation will evaluate children’s growth by examining their weight and height and compare them to growth charts,” the satement said.
“Child experts will also advise parents of children at risk of poor growth, weight loss and poor elevated heights, inadequate dietary intake, eating habits, frequent illnesses and developmental problems. Educational materials will also be displayed at participating clinics.”
The IMFeD secretariat said unfortunately parents often missed signs of stunted growth and only realised it when their children failed to reach their growth potential and developed health, developmental and psycho-social risks.